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Saturday, May 27, 2017

Budapest Hungary - Travel & Tourism Guide

Budapest is one of the picturesque cities often advertised
on the front of travel magazines and luxury river cruise brochures. It is an
enticing destination that has been on my bucket list for years as I dreamed
about exploring the sights along the Danube and finally seeing the iconic
Hungarian Parliament Building that first peaked my curiosity about the city’s grand
architecture.

No matter how often I travel, flying makes me nervous but
the comfort of a first class pod and sleeping under a fluffy duvet definitely
made the journey more enjoyable and helped reduce jet lag. After seven and a half hours we touched down in Budapest and I began exploring the bustling streets as the flower
fuzz of spring wafted through the air.

Accommodations

From the airport you can book a shuttle service directly to
your hotel - prices are based on drop-off location so rates shouldn't vary. As you
exit the baggage area there are also taxi and car companies offering their
services but getting a fair price can be tricky.

The city is divided into 2 sides connected by bridges – Pest
(where I stayed) has flatter landscape, more tourists and an abundance of hotels while Buda is
hilly with banks that showcase the royal palace.

Since Budapest (pronounced Buda-Pesht) is a very walkable
city, staying in or near the city center puts you in close proximity to many
of the main attractions, shopping and dining areas. I decided to book at the 4
star Boutique Hotel because of the amazing location, positive ratings and modern
decor. The hotel is just steps away from Central Market Hall, the famous
pedestrian shopping street Váci
Utca and the Danube River.

(Photo from hotel website: boutiquehotelbudapest.com)

Although the suites are quite small (which is common
in Europe) the room was rather cozy and came with breakfast buffet and wifi. The
bed was too low and firm for my comfort but the open lobby and large skylight above
the lounge/bar area is a nice place to relax in the evening after an exhausting
day touring. The front desk staff were friendly and very helpful but the maid
service failed to clear dirty dishes on a daily basis and the weak AC didn’t do
very much to cool the room. In terms of TV channels there were only about 3 or
4 in English but overall I definitely recommend this hotel based on cleanliness,
style convenience and service.

(Photo from hotel website: boutiquehotelbudapest.com)

You can visit the hotel website by clicking HERE but I
booked the room online via expedia.ca which is priced in Canadian dollars.

**Travelers Tip: before
booking a hotel read traveler reviews on sites like Trip Advisor and Expedia

City Tours

There are a few great tour companies in Budapest with buses
that take you throughout the city. After doing some research I booked the Big
Bus Tour (hop-on-hop-off) which I have also used in other cities including Abu
Dhabi, Istanbul, San Francisco and Chicago. This double decker bus tour is a
great way to see many of the major attractions without having to walk
everywhere or take public transit and there is historical guided commentary in various languages. You can reserve tickets online
before departure but I recommend talking to a tour operator in the city as
they often give you additional discounts. I booked the 2 day/48 hr deluxe tour
which cost €29 and
was discounted to €23 per person.

The tour also includes:

-Walking tours of the city

- Unlimited use of the river cruise tour boat (day and
night).

-One hour night tour on the bus

-City Map with bus routes and stops

It does not include entrance to any of the museums or
attractions but often stops in front or nearby.

** Travelers Tip: be
sure to take both river tours – the day cruise is great for photo opportunities
and at night you can enjoy the city lights. I also recommend doing the night bus
tour but make sure to arrive at the stop at least 30 mins early for good seats.

Attractions: Things to do

There are many amazing things to see and do in Budapest so
do your research and make plans based on what your interests are. Some of the
top sights and places I visited include:

St. Stephens’ Basilica

(A Roman Catholic Basilica named after the first king of Hungary)

Entrance to the church is free but donations are customary
upon entry (usually about HUF 200 or €1).
The colors inside the church are stunning and I highly recommend paying the HUF
600 or $2.95 CAD to take the elevator up to the dome for an amazing view of the
city!

*Note: HUF is the
currency symbol for the Hungarian Forint

Fisherman’s Bastion

(A beautiful terrace on the Buda bank of the Danube)

Fisherman’s Bastion is one of the most popular attractions
in Budapest for its panoramic city views and it is free to explore! The Big Bus
Tour does not stop there during the day so you can take a taxi up (which is a
good idea in the summer) or commit to the long walk uphill with many
stairs and paths (it was a good workout!).

Once you reach the top of Fisherman's Bastion you are rewarded with a fabulous birdseye
view of the river, parliament building and surrounding landscape with cool breezes and a small cafe if you'd like a drink or gelato.

At the top of Fisherman’s Bastion you will also find
Matthias Church. You can purchase tickets for entry (HUF 1 500 / $7.38 CAD) and
the mosaic tiles on the roof are just as colorful as the eccentric pillars and
arches inside.

Váci Utca

(One of the main pedestrian streets and perhaps the most famous in
central Budapest)

Since this street was just steps from my hotel I spent a
great deal of time shopping, having dinner at the outdoor patios and sitting by
the monument at night enjoying the atmosphere with a gelato orKürtőskalác in-hand.

Andrássay Avenue

(An elegant boulevard with restaurants, cafes and high-end shops)

Andrássay Avenueis on the way to Hero Square so you can hop off
the tour bus and stroll up the street which is shaded by large trees.

Thermal Baths

Budapest is well known for warm thermal baths supplied with water from underground springs that are said to have healing properties. Soaking in a public bath/pool with a large number of near naked travelers from all over the world is not my cup-of-tea but many people do enjoy the experience.

Hungarian Parliament Building/ Parliament of Budapest

Although I didn’t have time to see the inside of the building, tours can be booked in advance.

**Travelers Tip: The
best panoramic view of the Parliament Building is from Fisherman’s Bastion but the
best close-up photos can be taken from a river boat with an open deck.
At night the building is beautifully illuminated which also makes for a great photo.

Danube Cruise and Promenade

Along the river there are restaurants, patio bars and many
places to sit and relax. As mentioned earlier, the Big Bus Tour includes a sightseeing cruise
but lunch and dinner cruises can be booked separately.

**Travelers Tip: look
for dinner cruises online before your trip to compare traveler reviews, food
quality and menus. Booking in advance can also save you some money.

Buda Castle

You can take the funicular up to Buda Castle for about HUF 1 800
/ $8.86 CAD. The buildings themselves house beautiful art galleries (which you
can enjoy for an additional fee) while the outer grounds and gardens offer spectacular
views and a small souvenir shop where I found some unique scarves.

Hero Square

(Monument
featuring the Magyars and other important national leaders)

City Park

**Travelers Tip: Make note of the hours of operations
for the sites/attractions you want to visit since many museums are
closed on Monday.

Food

I didn’t try
much Hungarian food like Goulash Soup or Paprika Chicken but I did have the Chimney Cake or Kürtőskalács
which is a light dough (similar to pretzel bread but not as dense) cooked over
hot coals and rolled in your choice of toppings like chocolate, cinnamon and
nuts.

Curry House serves traditional Indian cuisine
and savory dishes like biryani with creamy butter chicken and naan.

*Address:
Budapest Bródy Sándor u. 21 1085 Hungary

Bangkok Thai Restaurant is located just
steps away from Boutique Hotel (directly across the small street) and the food
is delicious! I recommend the Pad Thai and make a reservation if
you’d like a table during the evening rush.

Gelarto Rosa (close to St. Stephan’s Basilica)
is very popular with tourists for their signature rose designs but the scoops
are small and the gelato is mediocre. If you want a cool Instagram
photo go for it, otherwise there are better gelato shops around.

Central Market is a great place to find
local produce and delicious pastries, I picked up some local honey.

There
are many types of cuisine in Budapest including Greek, Italian,
Middle Eastern and American chains like KFC, Burger King and Soul Food.

When you get
tired of walking, simply sit back on a park bench or relax on the open deck of a tour bus and take a moment to appreciate the sights, smells and sounds of
daily life in Budapest. It’s not uncommon to unexpectedly come across a local
craft market or festival. The city is energetic and lively with astounding beauty
and rich culture